“Not sure if I’m free to”
Investigation
In the fall of 2024, VPL, in partnership with two Steinhardt courses, Creating Ethnodrama & Documentary Theatre and International Human Rights Activism and Education, began an arts-based investigation into academic freedom and freedom of expression at New York University.
Not Sure if I’m Free To was performed on Saturday, April 26th, the NYU community and the greater public were invited to engage with and hear excerpts from these interviews in 3 iterations described below. The investigations took place at the John A. Paulson Center in Room 620.
Self-Discovery Investigation 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
This workshop was geared toward those who enjoy a personal self-discovery and a choose-your-own-adventure experience. Participants sorted through excerpts of the interviews at their leisure, made connections, drew conclusions, and conversed with the artistic team about their process. (Think interactive museum exhibit)
Collaborative Making Investigation 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
The workshop targeted those who enjoy process and collaboration with creatives. Participants had the opportunity to learn how to read and voice excerpts from the interviews and put the excerpts in conversation with each other to create a dialogue. (Think interactive workshop)
Performance Investigation 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
The performance featured 16 voices set in a community forum where the audience heard excerpts read by actors trained in verbatim performance technique. Select audience members chose to “sit at the table” with these voices and others sat outside and observed the conversation unfold.
Production Credits:
Investigated & Performed By:
Averil Carr
Andy Borda Cordova
Donyé Green
Daryl Embry
Derek Herman
Heddy Lahmann
Rita Liu
Sarah Misch
Kevin Qian
Nisha Sajnani
Mackie Saylor
Mimi Schlecht
Lia Spahn
Lucie Vonau
Mary Cecilia Walker
Karl O’Brian Williams
Created by The Verbatim Performance Lab Spring 2025 Team:
Averil Carr
Lindsey Elam
Caro Elliott
V Giorgione
Keith R. Huff
Aubrey Mann
Joe Salvatore
Mimi Schlecht
Interview Team:
Ruweida Nasser Abdulmalik, Victoria Ambrosionek, America Botello, Journey Brown-Saintel, Abby Carroll, Caroline Castro, Victoria Chiriboga, Florencia Davidzon, Charlotte Davis, Lindsey Elam, Christina Fileas, Dawson Foster, Pheben Getahun, Etienne Giannelli, Donyé Green, Zara Gounden, Alice Hallock, Seungkyoo Han, Chloe Himmelman, Juwan Holley, Tiffany Hopper-Danz, Noelle Katz Iturregui, Sharlon Kang, Rebecca Kenigsberg, Danira Khatwani, Ariel Lee, Ariel Lewis, Leyi Li, Jiaqi Ling, Geboli Long, Jailene Maldonado, Ashlee Morel, Jolene Ning, Chidinma Okafor, Anya Parauda, Sarah Pugliese, Mies Quatrino, Olivia Qian, Julia Roberto, Elia Sato, Vanessa Shepherd, Rahni Singh, Claudia Tapler, Lucie Vonau, Xuelong Wang, Maggie Wei, Fnu Widodo, Yang Yang
To all of our interview participants:
Thank you for your time, energy, stories, and insights. You’ve given us much to reflect on as we consider academic freedom and freedom of expression at NYU and beyond. Your words will stay with us, and for that, we’re truly grateful.
